The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 4 eBook

language. But they believe wicked men, they believe
seditious men, they believe their own party. They
are, indeed, brave men; but by reason of their exploits
which they have performed in the cause of the freedom
of the Roman people and of the safety of the republic
they are too ferocious and too much inclined to bring
all our counsels under the sway of their own violence.
Their deliberate reflection I am not afraid of, but
I confess I dread their impetuosity.

If I escape all these great dangers too, do you think
my return will be completely safe? For when I
have, according to my usual custom, defended your
authority, and have proved my good faith towards the
republic, and my firmness; then I shall have to fear,
not those men alone who hate me, but those also who
envy me. Let my life then be preserved for the
republic, let it be kept for the service of my country
as long as my dignity or nature will permit; and let
death either be the necessity of fate, or, if it must
be encountered earlier, let it be encountered with
glory.

This being the case, although the republic has no
need (to say the least of it) of this embassy, still
if it be possible for me to go on it in safety, I
am willing to go. Altogether, O conscript fathers,
I shall regulate the whole of my conduct in this affair,
not by any consideration of my own danger, but by
the advantage of the republic. And, as I have
plenty of time, I think that it behoves me to deliberate
upon that over and over again, and to adopt that line
of conduct which I shall judge to be most beneficial
to the republic.

THE THIRTEENTH ORATION OF M.T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED
ALSO THE THIRTEENTH PHILIPPIC.

THE ARGUMENT.

Antonius wrote a long letter to Hirtius and to Octavius,
to persuade them that they were acting against their
true interests and dignity in combining with the slayers
of Julius Caesar against him. But they, instead
of answering this letter, sent it to Cicero at Rome.
At the same time Lepidus wrote a public letter to
the senate to exhort them to measures of peace; and
to a reconciliation with Antonius; and took no notice
of the public honours which had been decreed to him
in compliance with Cicero’s motion. The
senate was much displeased at this. They agreed,
however, to a proposal of Servilius—­to thank
Lepidus for his love of peace, but to desire him to
leave that to them; as there could be no peace till
Antonius had laid down his arms. But Antonius’s
friends were encouraged by Lepidus’s letter to
renew their suggestions of a treaty; which caused
Cicero to deliver the following speech to the senate
for the purpose of counteracting the influence of
their arguments.